Reviews (648)

Sunny · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Well, Maglor - you really blew an excellent chance at achieving your stated goal (i.e. die) and at the same time give that bear a greater chance at surviving. Instead you had _him_ for dinner! (Well, and several other meals, too.) Good to see how finding the traces of Maglor's passage cheered the Harthadrim - they can now be assured that Denethor's dreams were more than just a plain ol' dream, and that their journey isn't a wild goose chase. Smart of Denethor to let the one among them who have actually been to Imladris to show them the way. That just simply makes _sense_! So I'm rather surprised at Voronwë's reaction. Is it some kind of male "The boss is supposed to be a complete expert at _everything_, no other input is needed", or does he just have low self esteem? So now the Harthadrim have met up with Maglor - and now that he Maglor has heard that the Valar want him to return to Valinor, is he going to be juuuust a little suspicious about all those "coincidences" that happened whenever he wanted to kill himself? He should be familiar with the Maiar, after all! And now that the Harthadrim have achieved their first goal, namely finding Maglor, I suppose they will think that everything is going to be fine from now on. We, of course, know that their troubles are just starting - or why would there be a story? And I know how things just _happen_ to your main characters (and any innocent bystanders in their vicinity!)

Kevana · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Oh no, not his harp! But at last, he's not alone any more. After being on his own for so long, it must be difficult to get used to being around people again, but just in their brief interactions it seems he's warming up pretty quickly. Poor fellow must be starved for companionship. I could have hugged Denethor for being so patient with Maglor. "I want to die!...no, not like that. No, not like that either. Eaten by a bear? How uncouth." Well alright Maglor, maybe if none of the potential methods of death meet your approval, you could just try living. :) You have a special talent for injecting very dry humor into dark situations, Fiondil. This chapter reminded me of Moses and his people wandering through the desert. I've heard that tundra is oddly similar to desert conditions for all that they're flipped around on the temperature scale. All the comparisons to the Grinding Ice are disconcerting, though. What's still ahead for them? Thank you for the update, Fiondil! As always you capture my interest and leave me eagerly awaiting more. Have some starry art. http://lohrien.tumblr.com/post/43106325099/illustrations-by-iateyourtoast -Kevana

Laikwalâsse · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

what a relief for such a tortured soul.... `But you will not be alone if you do.` How true - that´s the impotant thing. Thank you for such an emotional chater - I had tears in my eyes while reading it. Lai

shirebound · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

What a relief that they've met. There must have been many in the Company who wondered if the dream was real, and why they were enduring such a journey. *sigh* I can't help but wonder about the last days of the Ents, and also the hobbits.

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Atto, It's lucky that Maglor continued putting off dying, because now the Harthadrim have found him :) And they knew who he was all the time; that seemed to surprise him, lol. Glirhir was a good name to try, though. :D I feel bad for poor Maglor losing his harp after all this time, though! Hopefully he'll never have to eat bear meat after this again :P what do you think, Atto? Tye-melin, Kaylee

Fantasia · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Finally, now we will know how was the trip home and Maglor's reception at Valinor, maybe? Are you going to include that on this story? For someone that wants to die, he has very strong survival instincts ans skills. I think that very deep inside him, he was hoping for a cause to stop his decision. Imagine one day the archaeologists finding a broken harp buried I don't know how many meters or Kms deep on the ground! That will puzzle them for an eternity, shouting: Aliens were here, that is the only answer....

Celeth · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Thank you for mentioning Lord Glorfindel! I just adore the great Balrog-slayer. So Denethor knew him personally, huh? I am glad they finally found Maglor, now he won't be so lonely and they can support each other in the tough journey ahead. More power and more stories to come! :-)

UTfrog · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Yea, they found him in good time! Loved the fact that the singing moved him. I felt cold just reading this. Now Maglor has people to help warm him in many ways. Thanks, as always

Ilya of Aewellond · 15 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Road to Imladris

Maglor keeps saying he wants to die, but continually takes measures to keep himself alive. I don't think he's really suicidal! I'm glad he's met up with Denethor and the others now. Wonder what will happen next? Denethor has fulfilled his orders, so will there be another sign, guiding them to the Straight Road?

curiouswombat · 14 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

I am really rather sad to see the lands we know so changed - a sign that you have thought well about it, and are doing an excellent job of describing them. I wonder if any of the party have any thought as to who it is they are following? I wonder what they will think when they find out? All fascinating stuff.

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 13 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

Atto, "He still had a long way to go to die." Stubborn Maglor! On the other hand, if he wasn't stubborn, the other Elves' mission would probably have been doomed to failure by now already. You know, I can see Nyereser coming to stop Maglor and asking him riddling questions and other things about where he's going, why he's going there, why he's so intent on dying, etc. until he sees the truth. :) Head him off until the Elves catch up... By the way, I really really REALLY like the "Middle Earth as it was and is now..." things you're slipping in here and there! I wonder how the landmarks line up now, in our own time? Wasn't Great Britain meant to be Tol Eressea? Or was it Ireland? And was the Black Forest in Germany the Greenwood? Black Forest sounds like a likely inspiration for "Mirkwood" anyway... Tye-melin, Kaylee

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 13 February 2013 · Chapter 2: The Choice

Maglor :( poor Maglor! I think that the old crone is probably a descendant of Aragorn and Arwen, am I right? It just seems to me that she might be. I'd find it very amusing if her name was Andreth ;) what do you think, Atto? The litany of forgiveness is an interesting thing for Maglor to do. I wonder who inspired the old woman to tell him to do that? (And if she's not a descendant of Aragorn/Arwen, I'm banking on a Maia or Valie in disguise. "Esther", anyone? Though this takes place considerably earlier than that... *grin* Anyway, even if she's a Maia or Valie, I bet the other people are descendants of Aragorn and Arwen. Am I right? :) Tye-melin, Kaylee

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 13 February 2013 · Chapter 1: The Dream

Atto, The People of Hope are going in search of the Exiled One at last...I love the preparations, such as the ellith making the lembas, and I definitely love the names. What does Mablung mean? I feel like I should know and I've forgotten. Also, this is clearly during the Ice Age but when, exactly, was the Ice Age? I can't remember, and you're much cleverer than me, Atarinya :) *hugs* Tye-melin, Kaylee

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 13 February 2013 · Chapter 0: A Conversation Among the Valar

Atto, I'm so sorry I've been quiet on reviews these last few weeks. I've been keeping up with the stories, though, I promise. (I loved how our Christmas present turned out, by the way, and I can't wait for EA3 to appear! =) But for now, this will do =) ) I love this conversation among the Valar! I notice you didn't use names, so I'm trying to figure out who said what, though I imagine a good deal of the talking was Manwe and Namo, lol. Having caught up, I do know who exactly they're talking about. I suspected it even when I first read this chapter, but I wasn't sure. The Valar sure are a sneaky lot, aren't they? I'm just glad the Straight Road isn't shut forever! How have you been doing? Happy Valentine's Day early! Tye-melin, Kaylee

Sunny · 12 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

The Harthadrim seem to be making better time than Maglor - that storm should have helpedwith that, since it seems that they were far enough away that they were not caught up in it. And it might also help if Maglor decides on a detour to Helm's Deep. But eventually they will all end up in Imladris... So Maglor was once almoust caught by the Elrondionnath while flitting around the borders on Imladris? I wonder what sort of report they gave Elrond, and what he told them. If he suspected that Maglor were "visiting" from time to time, he might well have kept his mouth shut about it, for whatever reason. At least the trip to Imladris has given him some purpose for now, so that the Maiar watching him aren't at quite such a high alert. But I'll expect they still are at a high alert. Hmm. I wonder if Irmo might not have detailed one of his People to, let's say "enhance" the effects of Maglor's litany? Those "visions" of his seem very strong and lifelike...

Larner · 12 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

And unknowing they follow in his footsteps, and not that far behind him. I wonder if that storm was intended to make it easier for them to catch up with him?

Ellynn · 12 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

Just a little bit of nit-picking: "It will be colder then and the ice will be more frozen." Uhm, ice can't be more or less frozen; the water is either liquid, or solid (frozen). Once frozen, the structure doesn't change; instead, the ice can be thicker. ;) And just a note about the coasts, in case you'll mention any in the chapters to come: during ice ages the sea level is significantly lower. ;) But you probably know that. I guess one of your goals was to create the feeling of anxiety, and you're doing well. When I imagine Middle-earth lifeless, all covered with ice, and so many places, people and deeds forgotten, it makes me quite sad, and I have a feeling that things can never be good again. :( Yes, you do mention hope, but right now, things don't look very good. Storm, wind, cold... brr! :(

Laer · 12 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

It makes me sad to think what the ice did to the lands of old, and because deep down I have always wanted to think they were in our past; that elves, dwarfs and hobbits did in deed run the world with man. That and the changes in the land would be hard for even an elf to find (I think). Well, I know I would have been a Popsicle if I was to have tried this "little" walk about. Can't help but think the storm was sent to keep him there for just a little longer. To slow him down so that he can try to make his peace. I have a feeling he is really seeing them through his own guilt. As to how they will react when he really sees them...well maybe he is right with what he thinks.

Celeth · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

I can't imagine how utterly lonely it must be, to be all alone in that world of white, "still a long way to go to die." It's like a burial, except that he is all alone, and the I e who is to be buried is himself. I guess he has been alone for such a long time, longer tha. I can imagine, that he might have gotten used to it. Then again, does anyone ever get used to such loneliness? I do like his "litany of forgiveness," however. After all the grief and sorrow that he and his family have inflicted on themselves and other elves, he really needs it. Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful fruits of your talent and imagination with others. More stories to come! ;-)

Fantasia · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

Poor Maglor, he has such a long list....I re read Alone, to remember the story. Being immortal must be exhausting, if you can remember every bad deed and live with the consequences forever...

Kevana · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

"Do they even have Verizon in Valinor?" *gigglesnort* I imagine even if they do, roaming charges from the 10th dimension could probably pay the CEO's salary for a few decades. Although, good luck trying to collect on that bill. *grin* Oh jeez, I needed the laugh today. Thanks again.

Tari · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

What happened to the people of middle-earth It seems as though only the elves are left.

Laikwalâsse · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

what a bitter path for Maglor. Asking for forgiveness and knowing to never get it. I´m always so ready to forgive him and then I have to remeber what he has done...it´s really really difficult with this guy. Lai

6336 · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

Yep. hope is all they have, but it has moved mountains. I guess they will just have to keep on, keeping on, to go back would be to give up and fade and die. It is interesting, from a geological standpoint, to see how the topografy(sp?) has changed, what many thousands of years and a glacier will do to the landscape has to be fascinating. I see that life is slowly coming back to the lands, you can't keep Yavanna down for long, she is one tough Lady and her works are the same. Good chapter Fiondil, more please. Huggs, Lynda

Kitty · 11 February 2013 · Chapter 3: Journeying

Yeah, a map would have been nice – particularly one that showed the land as it is now *grin* In any case, it's good to see this group of Elves in better spirits and, despite the odds of finding Maglor and later the Straight Road, once again full of life and hope. Maglor, however, seems to have had a few rather uncomfortable days in that blizzard. By the way, he's right, it's strange how he keeps walking through such conditions, going so many hundred kilometers just to die. He could have had that easier ... Anyway, he's lucky to be an Elf who can walk on the snow, or he'd really struggle to get through all that snow, I suspect. Hm ... is it normal that I am now sitting here wondering if the blizzard was sent by the Valar to hold him up a bit and give the other Elves a chance to catch up? Or am I just reading too much of your stories? I seem to remember one or two other snowstorms that were a bit too convenient back in EI, for instance.